Free Czech Forces in Britain?
 

Some time ago The Formation Sign, journal of the Military Heraldry Society, published an article on the elaborate woven signs produced in WW2 by the firm of Brough, Nicholson and Hall based in Leek, Staffordshire. What the majority of the badges shown appeared to have in common was the fact that the units which wore them had at some time been based in Western Command.

Evidence in Badges on Battle Dress shows that Western Command was very supportive of badges for both formations, regiments and training units, many of which were not officially allowed to wear such badges.

Amongst them was the badge shown, its emblem identical to that applied to the aircraft flown by Czech aircrew serving alongside the RAF - but its khaki background would appear to rule out its use on blue uniforms.

I subsequently discovered that the Czech soldiers who had escaped to Britain, who in July 1941 became the 1st Czech Independent Brigade, were based from July 1940 near Chester - which is in Western Command.

Is it possible that the sign shown was intended for the Czech soldiers but never adopted? Or if you know otherwise please share the information.

Jon

Very interesting Jon. There was a Czech camp not far from Chester, at Cholmondeley - I believe it would in deed be within the Western Command boundary. https://www.mzv.cz/london/en/what_s_...choslovak.html

unrelated to Czechoslovakian Army and Air Force, any period of time, any theatre of war.